Tuchel’s men face Leeds United at Elland Road and look to extend his unbeaten run to twelve games. Chelsea are on a hot run of form, having recently beaten two Merseyside heavyweights after dispatching Atletico Madrid and holding Manchester United to a stalemate.
Ahead of the clash in the Premier League, he gave important updates on three players who have found themselves out of the starting eleven so quite often.
He started with the status of Brazilian veteran Thiago Silva, who has sat out for Chelsea ever since suffering a muscle injury against Tottenham in February.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference to Chelsea TV, Tuchel said:
“Thiago had a little setback in training at the end of session the day before yesterday. He felt at the very end something around the same area where he was injured so we had to take him off, so he is back into a transition phase.”
Tammy Abraham picked a knock against Burnley one matchday earlier than Silva. Speaking of which, Tuchel said:
“Tammy Abraham has still the ankle pain from the tackle against Burnley. It is still the pain from a tackle a long time ago now. He does not feel really 100% free and comfortable and I can see it in training
So these two are out for tomorrow and everybody else is available.”
So far, one man’s absence from Chelsea’s first eleven has baffled supporters. The boss spoke of Christian Pulisic, who could get his first start in the Premier League against Leeds.
“When you sign and play for Chelsea, it is part of the job to be patient and impatient at the same time. Impatient because all of my players are competitors, all of them want to play every single minute. This is what they show every day, the hunger and desire, and this is what Christian shows.
It was not easy for him but in the end it is the quality from the players that shines on the pitch and it is also the duty of the players to show up and really earn that they play. This is what Christian does, so it can happen at any minute, any game.”
Chelsea are on a hot run of form, having recently beaten two Merseyside heavyweights after dispatching Atletico Madrid and holding Manchester United to a stalemate.
It would prove to be another attacking spectacle if Kai Havertz turns up in a similar ‘false nine’ position he appeared in against Everton. If Christian Pulisic and Mason Mount play behind a front three of Werner, Hudson-Odoi and Havertz, we may be in for a treat of a match.
